Unsafe Staffing

[Melinurse]

:angthts: Ok, so last night I go to work and find out after report I am charge nurse, on the hardest wing. Thing is there are 6 wings, each wing of the LTC facility has 33 to 46 pts. I had 2 wings by myself!!!! I thought the other nurse was staying for the whole shift but she said she did not feel like it and left after 2 hours. So I called everyone on the phone list and no one came in. When first shift came in, they said the day before management knew this was going to happen and we were staffed short again. ( this comes from 3 day shift RNs one who is day supervisor ) Ok, so I know I have to get out of there and get another job. Here is my question, I am just scheduled to work this Saturday and Sunday but I don't want to work in an environment I feel is unsafe. Can I be charged with patient abandonment if I refuse to accept the assignment this weekend if it is unreasonable and I leave?( leave before clocking in )I should mention I am a new grad RN and have only been there for 1 month working per diem which is this was my 7th shift there. Should I report the facility?

[nurselsteele]

:bowingpur thank you all for your responses. i still have not heard from the don so i e-mailed her and left another voice mail regarding the situation and how i felt about it. since i have 2 other jobs i am leaving asap from there. i called in for the weekend there and notified i would not be picking up anymore hours there. i also sent a copy of the e-mail i sent to the don to the corporate office citing the working conditions and patient safety issues. thank you for all your advise.:heartbeat

great move, keep yourself out of the danger zone!

let the administration take care of their issues....

[mavlvn]

I do know in CA if you accept the keys your responsible, you finish your shift and go home . If you call in sick over the weekend that is not job abandonment YOUR SICK. The other Nurse left you knowing it was unsafe and she should take responsibility for that action. When staffing is that bad I call the DON and DSD and make them come in, if not I will call the administrator and the state immediately and tell them whats going on and refuse to work in conditions like that but stay there and do your best, but DO NOT LEAVE YOU WILL have your license in jeporady. Its Unfair to the resident and yourself these human beings are so vulnerable. Very DANGEROUS.

Believe me I would call and get them in there right now. If you continue to allow this they will expect it and take advantage of you. Your the patient advocate. :angryfire I feel for you. Good Luck, they were lucky you were on that night.

[kelll]

wow! I would say do not even go back there if it is that bad. why put yourself and others at that kind risk? I do not see any way that this would end any worse if you simply call in before you put yourself out there.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Another antique thread.....

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